Opinion With killing of Hidma, Maoist base shrinks and state has a political opening
For years, Hidma and others were able to use the terrain, lack of police presence and sparse local intelligence network in forested areas to their advantage. That story has changed
For years, Hidma and others were able to use the terrain, lack of police presence and sparse local intelligence network in the forested areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to their advantage. The death of Madvi Hidma in an encounter with security forces is a milestone in the battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Hidma headed the dreaded Battalion 1 of the CPI (Maoist). In over two dozen attacks on security forces since the 2000s, he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of personnel, including 37 jawans in two strikes in 2017. His killing, along with other successful operations targeting the Maoist leadership and the recent spate of surrenders, is a vindication of the Centre’s strategy — and of the actions taken by several states — to tackle LWE ahead of the March 31, 2026, deadline set by Home Minister Amit Shah.
For years, Hidma and others were able to use the terrain, lack of police presence and sparse local intelligence network in the forested areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to their advantage. That story has changed in recent years. Police forces have established their bases in the interior, armed with greater resources, and they have delivered. In May, CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju was killed along with 27 others. The recent surrenders of Politburo member and party ideologue Mallojula Venugopal Rao (alias Sonu), and Central Committee Members Rupesh and Chandranna, along with several cadres, are an indicator of the growing disillusionment with violence within Maoist ranks. The Centre’s surrender policy and the efforts of state governments towards rehabilitation, skilling, and integration into the mainstream of former LWE cadres are also bearing fruit. In the last year alone, 1,850 Maoists have surrendered and renounced violence.
Of the top leadership of the CPI (Maoist), Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji and Misir Besra alias Sunirmal remain at large. They lead a shrunken movement. While their capture remains a priority, it is equally important to continue to press the advantage on the political and developmental fronts. It is important that the thana becomes just the first step in a deeper and fuller engagement by governments with areas that were once affected by Naxalism.
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